Project excerpt from my Creative Shapes video.
I love it when the simplest little changes have a huge impact on the look and feel of a finished piece of art.
Grape Tulip is a terrific example of how using tried-and-true techniques, in slightly different ways, can give you amazingly refreshing results. This finished piece of art has a unique profile and graceful form that make it stand out from the usual vase and base projects. The secret to this dazzler lies in the fused glass shapes and the way they’re slumped. It’s amazing how these slight variations in method influence the outcome. Once you see how easy the setup is, you’ll be eager to try new combinations of your own.
Here’s how its made.
This project is made up of two components that are cut, fused and slumped separately and then later glued together to make the sculptural art. The two components are made with two layers of glass. The base layer of each is clear glass.
Flower: 10-inch x 8 ½-inch, Leaf: 10-inch x 3 1/2-inch
Tools to have handy.
Using the pattern as guide cut the clear base glass for the flower. Cut as much as possible by hand to minimize the amount of grinding needed.
Grind the clear flower base to remove sharp edges and improve the shape.
Draw the deep inside cuts with a marker. Cover the marker with lip balm to keep it from washing away when using the wet saw.
Cut the deep inside notches with a wet saw.
Using the pattern as a guide cut the clear base for the leaf.
Cut up the paper patterns.
Use a glue stick to fix the paper pattern pieces to the purple glass.
Using the pattern as a guide, cut the glass flower petals.
Grind the cut glass petals to improve the edge quality and shape.
Grind the cut leaf to smooth the edge.
Cut the notches in the leaf with a wet saw.
Glue and stack the purple petals on top of the clear base. Glue and stack the green leaf on top of the clear base. Use the smallest amount of glue possible so it burns off without leaving any trace.
Detail the flower petals with blue opal frit.
Use a small dry paint brush to clean any excess frit off the glass.
Use a sifter to apply powder blue opal frit to the leaf.
Give the powder frit a leafy pattern with a small dry paint brush. Work powder green frit into the leaf notches.
Fire the assembled glass to a full fuse temperature using the guide below.
The glass components after fusing.
Place the fused glass on the molds. Place a small ceramic bowl in the kiln upside down. Position a small stainless-steel floral form mold on top. Center the fused glass flower over the stainless-steel floral former mold. Position the fused glass leaf diagonally on the stainless-steel S mold.
Fire the glass to a slump temperature using the guide below.
Detail of the slumped flower.
Detail of the slumped leaf.
Glue the cooled flower to the cooled leaf using clear silicone adhesive or a similar clear drying glue. Hold the flower in place with jars of frit, or other prop, while the glue dries.
Flower pattern. Enlarge to 10-inch x 8 ½ inch
Leaf pattern. Enlarge to 10-inch x 3 ½ inch.
Grape Tulip.
I love it when the simplest little changes have a huge impact on the look and feel of a finished piece of art.
Here, the addition of a fluted edge on the flower component, plus the ceramic bowl riser under the stainless-steel mold, gives an otherwise ordinary floral former vase a totally new elegant appearance. The cut petal shaped rim has less mass than a circular rim. Therefore, the glass hugs the mold and curls in giving the vase a lovely, fluted finish.
Then the combination of the leaf’s free-form shape and the clever positioning over a standard S mold makes a stylish, free-standing base for the flower. The two components in combination make a beautifully graceful statement that’s incomparable.
Next time you’re brainstorming a new project consider using some of your trusted techniques and favorite molds in new ways. You just might create a surprisingly unique beauty like Grape Tulip.
Project excerpt from my Creative Shapes video.
Fusing Guide
Segment 1: Ramp 300 F/hr to 1300 and hold 30 min.
Segment 2: Ramp 500 F/hr to 1465 and hold 10 min.
Segment 3: Ramp 9999(AFAP*) to 960 and hold 40 min.
Segment 4: Cool to room temperature.
*As fast as possible
Gentle Slumping Guide
Segment 1: Ramp 300 F/hr to 1225 or 1265 (depending on your kiln) and hold 10 min.
Segment 2: Ramp 9999(AFAP*) to 960 and hold 40 min.
Segment 3: Cool to room temperature.
*As fast as possible.
NOTE: Kilns fire differently. Test fire these guides in your kiln and then adjust as needed.
Glass and Materials: 1 ½ sq. ft. clear glass for the flower base and leaf base, 1 sq. ft. transparent purple glass for the flower petals, 1/2 sq. ft. opal green for the leaf, Blue opal frit, fine or medium size to accent the flower petals, Blue opal frit, powder to accent the top of the leaf, Green transparent, fine frit to accent the slots in the leaf
You will need: 4-inch tall stainless steel floral former mold, 5-inch wide ceramic bowl mold, Small stainless-steel S mold. Fuser’s glue, Adhesive to glue the two slumped components together
I hope this fun project inspires creative thinking and exciting fusing.
Watch the Grape Tulip video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3k7QAzlF4M
Happy fusing!
Lisa
